Embedded in tire self-powered semi-passive rfid transponder

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for providing a semi-passive transponder system in a vehicle. A semi-passive module employing backscatter technology is provided with an internal energy source that provides operating energy for at least a portion of the modules operating circuitry to reduce the energy requirements of a corresponding interrogator device. The module may be associated with tires mounted on a vehicle such that bi-directional communications may be established between the module and a centrally located interrogator module on the vehicle. The internal energy source may correspond to a battery, a fuel cell, a rechargeable device, an energy harvesting device, or similar devices.

1 . A semi-passive transponder system, comprising:
 a vehicle;   at least one semi-passive backscatter module associated with said vehicle; and   an interrogator module,   
       wherein said semi-passive module includes an antenna, an antenna impedance modulator, a data encoder, a data decoder, a memory, and an internal energy source, and wherein said internal energy source supplies power to at least said antenna impedance modulator. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one semi-passive backscatter module is located within at least one tire mounted on said vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said internal energy source comprises one of a battery, a fuel cell, a radiation source, a super-capacitor, a piezoelectric transducer, a thermo-electric transducer, a radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting device, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said interrogator module further comprises at least one antenna, a transceiver, a data encoder, and a data decoder. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one peripheral device associated with said vehicle and interfaced with said at least one semi-passive backscatter module,   
       whereby additional data may be transmitted to said interrogator module. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said peripheral device comprises one of a sensor and a microcontroller. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said internal energy source further supplies power to a said data encoder, said data decoder, and said memory. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said interrogator is provided as one of a vehicle mounted device, a handheld device, and a drive by device. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing improved communications in a vehicle mounted back-scatter transceiver system, comprising:
 providing a vehicle;   providing a semi-passive backscatter module by providing an antenna, an antenna impedance modulator, a data encoder, a data decoder, a memory, and an internal energy source for providing energy to at least the antenna impedance modulator;   associating at least one semi-passive backscatter module with the vehicle; and   providing an interrogator module for initiating communications with the semi-passive backscatter module.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein associating at least one semi-passive backscatter module with the vehicle comprises:
 providing a tire;   associating at least one semi-passive backscatter module with the tire; and   mounting the tire on the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing an internal energy source comprises providing one of a battery, a fuel cell, a radiation source, a super-capacitor, a piezoelectric transducer, a thermo-electric transducer and a radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting device, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing an interrogator module further comprises providing at least one antenna, a transceiver, a data encoder, and a data decoder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing at least one peripheral device;   associating the at least one peripheral device with the vehicle; and   interfacing the at least one peripheral device with at least one semi-passive backscatter module.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing energy from the internal energy source to one or more of the data encoder, the data decoder, the memory, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing the interrogator as one of a vehicle mounted device, a handheld device, and a drive by device.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled)